He was a 21-year-old kid who had promised his mother before she died that if anything happened to his father, hed step up and assume the responsibility of the household. Craniopagus twins, joined at the head, are a rarity one in 2.5 million. Vernon would go on to amass more than 3,000 kick/punt return yards over the course of his six-year NFL career, and reached Super Bowl XXV with the Bills in 1990. Once his father passed away, fulfilling that promise was all he could think about. He earned all-city and all-state honors and left the school with over 4,000 yards passing. You see it slowly approaching and all you can do in the meantime is prepare and figure out how strong it will be once it arrives. Its about time, Turner said. I had decent stats. The administrators family had kept it in a closet for decades. Britney Hamilton takes on the role of weekday meteorologist primarily for the Greensboro-Triad area. This injury could be one piece of evidence that helps identify the skull at the Smithsonian as Turners, said Kelley Fanto Deetz, a Black history scholar who was a consultant for The Birth of a Nation, a 2016 film about the insurrection written and directed by Norfolk native Nate Parker. "I'm so blessed and grateful just to be on this Earth and be able to pay it forwardI'm not worthy of this," said Turner. When the Yukon High product went missing in 2019, the rumors started to swirl. Hatcher added the relic to his collection of historical artifacts, including a pair of sunglasses from musician Stevie Wonder, and a shirt worn by performer Sammy Davis, Jr. Beginning late on the night of Aug. 21, 1831, Nat Turner, a 30-year-old, literate, enslaved preacher, launched a rebellion in Southampton County, intending to strike a fatal blow to the institution of slavery. The museum declined the donation on the grounds that it doesnt display human remains. You would never understand the suffering of people so long ago without the history. I think these last two meets were big for him. After going unselected in the 1990 NFL Draft, Turner signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos, but did not make the team. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? EXCLUSIVE: Undrafted punt returner Vernon Turner might have come into the NFL through modest auspices, but his inspiring life story will head to the screen backed by a high wattage group of producers. When Vernon Turner ran 80 yards to the end zone on a punt return in 1994, he broke an infamous drought in Bucs history and also validated his own life-or-death journey to make it in the NFL For that alone, not to mention all the great coaches and great players that I was blessed to be around, they provided me with an opportunity to take care of my family.. So when Southern Mississippis Corvell Todd cleared 7-6 (2.29 meters) on his first attempt at the height in the NCAA Indoors last Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, and Turner missed on his first jump at 7-6, Turner said screw it. In other words, elite high jumpers must be strong and fast and possess impeccable technique. She, Vernon and, by then, his little brother moved to the man's Staten Island home. NORMAN Vernon Turner has heard all the rumors that floated around about him. "Coach stepped in and helped me," said Turner. If it is confirmed as Turner's, it will be laid to rest alongside other descendants. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Turner was severely undersized, but he. His mother was an African native who transmitted a passionate hatred of slavery to her son. He was taken to the county seat, then called Jerusalem (now Courtland), tried, convicted and hanged. You can contact him at benswenson@cox.net. On the other hand, one of Turner's assistant coaches encouraged him to focus on his grades in college -- a message that Turner interpreted differently. OU coach Tim Langford and Turner himself credited Sooner vertical jumps coach Jerel Langley for his long work with Turner. Turner has participated in two Olympic Trials and no-heighted both times. "When people look at me and my life from the outside," Turner wrote, "they say, 'Man, VT has it all. In 2010, Turner released his self-published autobiography "The Next Level: A Game I Had To Play" and is currently working on a followup self-help book. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Who created it? Spectrum News 1 welcomes Meteorologist Britney Hamilton. The daily chores of caring for four young children as a pre-teen while his mother continued to struggle and his father was busy taking care of her routinely caused Vernon to arrive late to practice -- a problem that teammates, who didn't understand his situation, took issue with. One of his patients was the daughter of a physician who was present when Turners body was cut up. He called his high school coach and said he was turning pro. Turner came to learn that he was conceived when his mother was gang-raped and beaten as a teenager by a group of men in Brooklyn -- a badge of shame that he carried around throughout his youth, seeing himself as a daily reminder to his mother of the trauma she suffered. Langley recruited Turner out of Yukon and stayed with the program even after a head-coaching change, which helped persuade Turner to return to Norman. In 1991, he joined the Los Angeles Rams, playing as their primary kickoff and punt returner through the 1992 season. (Read about Turner's complex legacy.). Wouldnt surprise me if you saw 7-10 come out of him.. He believes he can jump 7-10. Although Owsley and his team are not talking publicly about their progress, it is possible to speak generally about the processes used to glean identifying information from human bones. Aguirre, Nat Turners fifth-great-granddaughter, said that examining history, uncomfortable as it may be, serves the common good. Deetz cited a description of Turner that a Southampton resident created while authorities were trying to capture him in 1831; it said he had a scar on one of his temples produced by the kick of a mule. The skull at the National Museum of Natural History possibly shows signs of this injury. But there were a few players on his teamwho were getting workouts from scouts. Even when I reflect back on how things started and where they went, I still scratch my head. The ethnographic museum of the past is making its way to the exit.. Among many Americans, the general details of Nat Turners Rebellion may be fairly well known. [6] His performance earned him offensive player of the game honors. "But football was the only thing I wanted to give my heart and soul to.". The Richard Porter House, where rebels found that the homes namesake had fled, was standing as late as a few years ago. That accomplishment was significant because it enabled him to earn large weekly paychecks which he sent back to Staten Island so his four younger siblings could remain in their Sunnyside home. I was nowhere near the caliber of a pro football player. Even if it cannot be proved to be Reverend Turners skull, she said, I dont think that diminishes the relevance and its symbolic importance.. Get up off your knees, Vernon. Every time the high jumper has gone to a meet this season, he has heard another tale about his supposed whereabouts last season. The OU high jumper hadnt cleared the bar at more than 7 feet in four years. Aguirre, the Turner descendant from Washington, expressed strong interest in contacting Hatcher to see if hed be amenable to returning the skull to Virginia for a proper burial. After the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2018, Turner says he was told his scholarship would be increased to a hundred percent. He speaks highly of many well-known Staten Island sports figures, starting with former Curtis head coach Fred Olivieri, who filled the role of father-figure to Turner upon his arrival at the St. George school. Nevertheless, he told Olivieri his intentions, and his coach went to work for him -- spending countless hours creating highlight tapes and petitioning schools with letters and phone calls. He subsequently joined the Buffalo Bills practice squad and played in one regular season game. At some point in his life,Nat Turner got kicked in the head by a mule. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Still, Turner cleared 7-3 this spring and finished second last weekend at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. Over the next two days, he and a growing band of rebels hacked and clubbed to death upwards of 55 white people men, women and children alike. And while he was there, he figured hed learn as much as he could from some of the best players in the league. Turner wasnt on the active roster for Super Bowl 25 he and two other players were vying for an additional receiver spot but he didnt get it. He writes profoundly of his deep love for his mother, and tells of the day when at the age of 11 he ran home from PS 35 only to find his mother in the bathroom with a needle in her arm. Much more accurate, according to Blakey, is genetic analysis. These guys helped me mold myself into a professional athlete. "The Next Level: A Game I Had To Play!" The Covid shutdown which wiped out both 2020 championships. In 2002, a former mayorof Gary named Richard G. Hatcher held a fundraising gala for a project he hoped to usher to fruition, the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Update: October 13, 1:45 p.m. The family has temporarily given the skull to the Smithsonian Institution, which will conduct a DNA test to determine if it is, in fact, Turner's. If the tests . Turner's mother Jackie finally succumbed to her addiction during his freshman year -- though football kept Vernon going and his only two goals from that point forward were to play ball and keep his family together. She is quick to point out that she does not speak for all of Turners descendants who, seven generations on, are numerous. The 'extreme cruelty' around the global trade in frog legs, What does cancer smell like? As high jumpers, we go through slumps, Langford said. Ive been waiting years for this phone call.. When Turner was 6, an Italian-American customer of his mother's asked her to marry him and she accepted. Sex and race are more problematic because there is a lot of crossover in different traits. Born in BedfordStuyvesant, a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Turner is the oldest of five children, with two brothers and two sisters. It was his stepfather who took him to his first NFL game -- they took the train to Shea Stadium -- at the age of "10 or 11" and he was mesmerized by the Joe Namath-led New York Jets. Learn More. Vernon Turner Meteorologist at Spectrum Raleigh, North Carolina, United States 2K followers 500+ connections Join to follow Spectrum North Carolina State University Activity On this Thursday I'm. All Turner has to do is sit back and watch as his inspirational true tale of how he somehow made it to the NFL and onto the Buffalo Bills is magically reinvented on the big screen for the world to see. Why wetlands are so critical for life on Earth, Rest in compost? Explore a billion-year-old volcanic mystery on Lake Superior, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, These Lake Superior islands are no place for amateurs. [8] The New York native finished his collegiate career ranked second in school history with 569 rushing attempts, and fourth with 2,851 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.[5]. [2], Turner attended Curtis High School on Staten Island where he played football as a quarterback and also lettered in track and field. Drewry said a local doctor took possession of his skeleton. Multiple sources say his head was separated from the rest of his body, which was skinned. The legacy of Nat Turner has had enduring impact, not simply upon our family, but upon American history, Aguirre said. A goal is to have an accompanying interactive smartphone app to assist where the history has been erased. 2.4K views, 55 likes, 13 loves, 66 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Meteorologist Vernon Turner: Let's talk about the whole snake video while I have lunch and you enjoy breakfast. With all he's accomplished and overcome, Turner travels as a motivational speaker these days. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. You either jump high enough or you dont. April 30, 2019 at 11:46 a.m. EDT. Those messed with me. Just being out of the rhythm of competition has really messed with me, Turner said. He owned an office furniture installation business in North Carolina, moved into the tire manufacturing business, and currently works in the oil refining industry in Houston, Texas. That gave him the confidence to believe in what theyre doing right now.. Injured an ankle. Turner hadnt been working much with trainers or coaches as he tried to figure out where to transfer, and it left him in lots of pain when he tried to jump. He decided to transfer and landed at Arkansas. I didnt know why I was on this earth because of how I entered the world.. Aguirre said thats why this skull will be accorded honor and respect, no matter the outcome. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Turner had set a school record at 7 -feet, 5 inches during the outdoor season, won the Big 12 title and finished sixth at NCAAs. But it is of immeasurable value because it is a poignant reminder of the price of freedom. "I witnessed one of the best players on the planet and I wanted to be just like him. Mini Bio (1) * Vernon M. Turner was born January 6th 1967, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York. He received a football scholarship to Carson-Newman, which gave him a chance to get an education, but the sport was never something he saw himself doing beyond college. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, Turner was severely undersized, but he posted solid preseason numbersup until the final game. Jim, you now have my life in the palm of your hands!". The filmmakers arranged the call. Nat Turner looms large 190 years after his death. Even though hes not back on the trajectory he had as a freshman, Turner still has lofty goals. Aguirre and Wood, the guests of honor at the ceremony, shed tears of joy when they were handed what they believe are their ancestors remains. "I threw the ball back to the quarterback in practice one day, and the next day they moved me to QB.". And thats exactly what he did. Vernon dreamed of playing running back like his idol Walter Payton -- but one day at practice he accidentally launched himself into the starting lineup at quarterback. Hes gotten to the point where he's focusing again on technique, working again on fundamentals such as when to start his curve on his run up. He found the mental toughness to get it done. Bob Franklin made many attempts to find a fitting home for the heirloom, including offering it to the Smithsonian Institution. His numerous descendants have fanned out from a rural pocket of Tidewater. Eternal God, we are gathered here today to honor you, and to honor the legendary liberator, emancipator of the enslaved, and revolutionary of righteous, the Reverend Nathaniel Turner.. In fact, Olivieri spent so much time helping Turner that it prompted his wife to ask why. "I owe him, he gave me everything he had," Turner says Olivieri told his wife. "No one will ever understand the pain and regret I have inside due to my past things that will haunt me until the day I die. What if we could clean them out? Turner as a freshman produced disappointing performances in the 2018 NCAA Indoors (fourth) and NCAA Outdoors (sixth). A CT. Turner, a phenom when he was coming out of Yukon High School, How risky strategy propelled Oklahoma State's Taylor Roe to national title, Five things to know about the Sooners' first-round opponent, David Sandlin's 'outstanding' outing highlights bounce-back week for Sooners, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. After one season with Buffalo, Turner joined the Los Angeles Rams for two years, before moving on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two more years and rounding out his career with a final stint in Detroit. But available evidence strongly suggests that this sordid tale had a gruesome appendix, and there began the mystery of what happened to Nat Turners body, and whether part of it now resides in a lab of the Smithsonian Institution. Accompanied by a small army of his brethren, the group fought their way through the countryside of Southampton County, Virginia, with hopes of ending the scourge of slavery. In recent years, Francis has been leading tours around Southampton to acknowledge some of the important sites, although hes conducted none since the onset of the pandemic. He thought it was important that people would know who the skull belonged to.. While with Tampa in 1994, Turner made history -- becoming the first Bucs player to return a punt for a touchdownagainst one of his former teams, the Lions. Other than the Rebecca Vaughn House in Courtland, the homes associated with the rebellion have been neglected, nearly all fallen into ruin. What got him there was why he was so motivated to succeed in the first place the need to take care of his family. He heard through the grapevine VanHootgens days at OU might be limited VanHootgen eventually did step down but Turner ultimately opted to return to Norman because he wanted to work again with high jump coach Jerel Langley. Today it is a twisted jumble of boards, bricks and vegetation. Nat Turner organized and planned to overthrow a system that supported oppression, he said. Many stories have circulated about the fate of Turners remains after his hanging. I became obsessed, forgot about boxing, all I cared about was footballand that's how my career started. White people killed at least 13 black people during the next two weeks. Turner was sidelined. I think hes in a much better spot mentally than he was a couple of months ago or a year ago. Let's talk about the whole snake video while I have lunch and you enjoy breakfast. However, Turner's senior year, like the rest of his upbringing, was far from rosy. [3], After graduating from high school, Turner enrolled at CarsonNewman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where he was recruited by head coach Ken Sparks to play running back. ", Most of all, Turner wants to represent his three children - Ashley (30), Darris (29), and Liam (5) - the "right way. Those familiar with the intensely-driven, competitive young man understand the passion and sincerity he displayed while helping raise four younger siblings and making sure that his family's physical needs were met. Bruce Turner said many people sympathized with his ancestors motivations. I dont know necessarily how its going to be once I really get back into it, but it doesnt feel normal yet.. "I found a 10-pound weight in the weight room, unlaced my shoe, and tied it around my waist under my pants on weigh-in day.". In fact, throughout American history, many corpses have been mutilated, especially Black ones, though not exclusively. Some of the book's fascinating details are well known to those of us who followed Turner's athletic pursuits. Oklahoma's Vernon Turner is the NCAA high jump champion after clearing 7-7.25 on Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. 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